MILITARY SPOKESMAN Major General Prasad Samarasinghe said the Army is now engaged in mine clearing operations along the A-9 Road from Paranthan to Elephant Pass and to Muhamalai. They also cover certain other areas in the North-Thunukkai, Manthivu, Oddusudan and Kokkavil.
“Around 1,000 troops engaged in the de-mining operation have cleared approximately 200sq km in the Jaffna, Killinochchi, Mullaitivu and Mannar districts using 29 de-mining machines. A total number of 822 AP mines, an Anti tank mine and 304 UXO were removed in the process of de-mining,” he told the Daily News.
The de-mining process has been accelerated in the North on the instructions of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and implemented by the Special Task Force headed by Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa as part of the Uthuru Vasanthaya (Northern Spring) program, in order to resettle the IDPs at their original places. The process of de-mining the liberated area is given high priority in the resettlement agenda to meet the deadlines of the Uthuru Vasanthaya.
The de-mining process has been completed in most parts of the Killinochchi district Around 90,000 IDPs have returned to their villages in the North and the East.
The majority returned to the districts of Jaffna, Vavuniya, Mullaitivu, Trincomalee and Ampara.
He said while the troops engaged in the de-mining process , there are many NGO’s and INGO’s involved in the mine clearing operations.
The UNCHR has provided five de-mining flail machines to help accelerate humanitarian mine clearing operations in former conflict areas.
The Japanese Government also funded around US$ 2.1 million for humanitarian de-mining through de-mining actors such as Danish De-mining Group, HALLO Trust and FSD (Swiss Foundation for Mine Action).
Another US$ six million was provided by the US Government for the humanitarian de-mining activities in the North. As well as, the Indian Government had extended support in the de-mining process sending logistical and manpower assistance to expedite the process.
The Australian Government recently donated five de-mining machines worth Rs 250 million to carry out the de-mining process.
Humanitarian de-mining and the removal of unexploded ordnance (UXO) are pre-requisites for delivery of humanitarian assistance, early recovery and development in conflict affected areas. De-mining also enables infrastructure development and the resumption of social services and livelihoods.
(Courtesy: Daily News)
